Presser-machine for boxing purposes.



PATENTED APR. 24, 1906.

G. N. POND.

PRESSER MACHINE FOR BOXING PURPOSES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 22, 1905.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

XNVENTOH W/ TNESSE S:

m M W e G A TTOHNE) PATENTED APR. 24, 1906.

- G. N. POND.

PRESSER MACHINE FOR BOXING PURPOSES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 22, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

//v VENTOR i'eazye 1' Zoni A 770/? N E Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PRESSER-IVIACHINE FO To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE N. POND, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Aspen, in the county of Pitkin and State of Colorado, have invented a new and Improved Presser Machine for Boxing Purposes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to presser-machines; and it consists substantially in the details of construction and combinations of parts more particularly described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims.

In packaging fruits of different kinds, as apples and pears, in boxes and the like each box is usually filled with the fruit to a height exceeding that of the upper edge of the box for about one-half (more or loss) the thickness of a layer of the fruit, and when the lid of the box is applied it is necessary to press down upon the same and hold it while securing it in place either by nailing or otherwise. The principal object of the present invention is to provide a machine for performing the work of holding down the lid of the box while securing the same in place.

A further object is to provide a machine of this character which is comparatively simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture, besides being thoroughly effective and reliable for its purposes and possessing the capacity for long and repeated service.

The above and additional objects are attained by means substantially such as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pressermachine embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a. vertical longitudinal sectional view thereof, and Fig. 3 is a sectional view in detail.

Before proceeding with a more detailed description it may be stated that in the form of my improvements herein shown I employ a frame of special construction, working within which are specially-constructed reversely-disp osed swinging and vertically-movable presser devices, which may be operated to be carried into contact with the lid of the box placed on the machine, special means being employed for causing the presser devices to exert the desired pressure upon the lid to hold it on the box while being nailed or otherwise secured Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 22,1905.

R BOXING PURPOSES.

Patented April 24, 1906. Serial No. 275,196-

thereto. I preferably employ a foot-treadle lever and special connections therefrom for actuating the several parts of the machine, special devices being employed for automatically engaging the said foot-lever to hold the presser devices in operative position until re leased therefrom, as will presently be explained.

Reference being had to the drawings by the designating characters marked thereon, 1 and 2 represent parallel horizontal beams of the main frame of my improved presser-machine, the same being connected at suitable distances from the ends thereof by means of outer cross-beams 2 and rods 2*, as well as inner transverse beams 3, and being mounted at a suitable height on sets of legs or uprights 4 and 5, as shown, said inner beams 3 constituting a support for the box 6 of fruit or the like while the lid 7 thereof is being pressed upon and held in place in the manner shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2, to receive the nails or other fastening devices therefor. The said inner transverse beams 3 also serve another important function, as will presently be explained.

Mounted upon rods 8, connecting the inner surfaces of the legs 4 and 5 of each set thereof, are the ends of parallel branches 9 of reversely-disposed arched or bowed verticallyswinging members 10, the said branches of each of said members having pivoted thereto at 12 the lower ends of parallel vertically-disposed links 13, each being herein shown as in two similar parts for the purpose of strength, although the same may be of a single part only, as will be understood. The upper ends of the said links 13 of each set thereof are pivoted to or in movable connection at 1 1 with the ends of parallel side portions 15 of a movable presser device for the lid 7 of the box 6, said portions being connected together at their outer ends by a transverse portion 16, as shown, it being noted that the two said presser devices are reversely disposed to each other and that normally they rest upon the upper surfaces of the inner transverse beams 3 of the frame in substantially horizontal positions. The links 13 of each set thereof are movable within the inner surfaces of said inner transverse beams 3, and it will thus be seen that by swinging the arched or bowed members 10 downwardly the links 13 will all be carried downward y therewith, thereby pulling upon the said presser devices and causing them to rise toward each other in such manner that the side portions 14 thereof will embrace the sides of the box at or near the ends of the latter, whereupon as the said arched or bowed members 10 are continued to be swung downwardly the said transverse connecting portions of the presser devices will be carried downwardly upon the lid of the box with considerable pressure, as will be apparent. As the links are drawn downwardly adjacent upper edge portions of the inner transverse beams 3 serve as working fulcra for the side portions 14 of the presser devices to move upon, thus to cause the lat ter to rise until they are brought substantially into parallelism with each other vertically, wardly with the links, as will be fully un derstood. In order to cause the two said presser devices to be actuated in unison, the side portions 14 thereof have pivoted thereto at 17 the ends of horizontally-disposed links 18, the portions 19 of which are referably bent slightly outward to permit of a proper working connection between the upper ends of the links and the ends of the said side portions of the presser devices. The inner faces of the inner transverse beams 3 of the frame are preferably, though not essentially, pro vided with pendent members 20, disposed adjacent to the upper portions of the links 13 to serve as guides for the latter and to assist them in truly operating in the manner intended therefor and as already described.

For the purpose of effecting the abovedescribed movements of the arched or bowed members, together with the presser devices and the intermediate connections therebetween, any suitable means may be employed; but preferably I employ herein a foot-treadle lever 21, having a foot-piece 22 at one end thereof, on which the operator may place his foot in order to depress the lever to operate the several devices of the machine, as will presently be explained. The said foot-lever 21 is pivoted at its other end to a bracket 23, secured in any suitable manner to an upright portion 24 of the frame of the machine, the lower end of which is connected in any suitable manner with the central portion of a longitudinal beam 25, connecting together the legs 4 of the two said sets of the latter. Pendent from the parallel beam 2 and oppositely disposed to the said upright portion 24 of the frame is a pendent guide 26, having therein a vertical slot 27 of suitable height, in which the foot-treadle lever is guided near the footpiece 22 thereof in the vertical movements imparted to the said foot-lever when operating the machine. The upright portion 24 of the frame is also provided with a slot 28, through which the corresponding portion of the foot-lever extends and works, it being noted that said foot-lever is in movable connection at 29 and 30 with the two said arched or bowed members 10 by means of links 31.

whereupon they then move down- The foot-treadle lever is normally supported in a slightly-elevated position at the outer end thereof by means of a spring 32 or its equivalent, having one end thereof secured at 33 to the inner side of the upright portion 24 of the frame, while the other end thereof is secured to the lever at 34, the organization being such that the arched or bowed members are also normally maintained in slightlyinclined positions with reference to each other. The outer face of the pendent guide 26 is provided to one side of the vertical slot 27 therein with a swing-plate 35, pivoted at 36 to the face of the guide and formed for a suitable distance from its lower end with a series of ratchet-teeth 37, the said swingplate being also provided with a stud or projection 39, against which constantly presses the member 40 of a spring 41, secured at its end in an opening therefor in the guide 26 and held in place by means of a screw 42. For the purpose of limiting the swinging movement of the said swing-plate 35 the upper end thereof has connected thereto one end of a chain 43, the other end of which may be connected to a stationary part of the machine, as at 44.

From the foregoing it will be seen that normally the lower portion of the swing-plate 35 extends diagonally across the slot 27 in the guide 26 under pressure of the said member 40 of the spring 41 the other parts of the machine at this time being all substantially in the positions indicated in Fig. 1. Now by placing a box upon the top of the inner transverse members 3 of the frame and then exerting downward pressure upon the foot-treadle lever by means of the foot it will be seen that the parts of the machine will be carried to the positions indicated both in full and dotted lines at Fig. 2, the lid of the box being thereby pressed upon and firmly held in position to be nailed or otherwise secured in place. When the free end of the foot-treadle lever is carried downwardly and the pressure of the foot of the operator taken therefrom, the same will become automatically engaged with one or another of the ratchet-teeth 37 of the swing-plate 35, and thus held in the position to which carried until the said swingplate is swung or carried to one side to release the lever, whereupon the spring 32 (which previously had been distended) again contracts and causes the parts of the machine to become restored to their original or first position in readiness to be operated again in a similar way as before.

It is apparent that my improved machine is both simple in construction and effective for the purposes for which the same was devised.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In boxing fruit and the like, a pressermachine, comprising means for supporting a box, presser devices for the lid of the box, and means for actuating the same to embrace the sides of the box and to press upon said lid, said second-named means embodying vertically-swinging arched members and links between the same and said devices.

2. In boxing fruit and the like, a pressermachine, comprising means for supporting a box, presser devices for the lid of the box, and means for actuating the same to embrace the sides of the box and to press upon said lid, said second-named means embodying vertically swinging arched members, links connecting them with said devices, and a spring-controlled foot-treadle lever.

3. In boxing fruit and the like, a presser machine, comprising means for supporting a box, presser devices for the lid of the box, normally occupying reverse positions horizontally, and means for carrying said devices to vertical positions to embrace the box, and

for moving the same vertically to press upon and hold said lid in place while being secured to the box, said second-named means embodying a spring-controlled operating footlever, and a springcontrolled swing-plate having teeth for engaging said lever in lowered position.

4. In boxing fruit and the like, a pressermachine, comprising means for supporting a box, presser devices for the lid of the box, and means for actuating the same to embrace the sides of the box and to press upon said lid, said second-named means embodying vertically-swinging arched members and links between the same and said devices, and links connecting the devices together.

5. In boxing fruit and the like, a pressermachine, comprising parallel longitudinal beams and sets of supporting-legs therefor, connecting transverse beams between the two near their ends, inner transverse beams for supporting a box, a spring-controlled operating foot-lever, duplicate swinging arched members having movable connections with the foot-lever, reversely-disposed rectangular presser devices normally resting upon the inner transverse beams, and occupying reversed positions, links movably connecting the presser devices with each other, and links also movably connecting them with said arched members.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE N. POND.

WVitnesses:

I'IARRY A. BROWN. FRANK KUNrz. 

